Prime broker: Difference between revisions

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{{anat|PB}}
A prime broker is the business division of an [[Investment Bank]] that looks after [[hedge fund]]s.
A prime broker is the business division of an [[Investment Bank]] that looks after [[hedge fund]]s.


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Prime brokers — fondly known in the trade as [[PB|PBs]] — usually provide the following services:
Prime brokers — fondly known in the trade as [[PB|PBs]] — usually provide the following services:


*'''[[Custody]]''': looking after the {{tag|hedge fund}}'s “long” investment portfolio - (but this is because they like to [[reuse]] all those lovely assets)
*'''[[Custody]]''': looking after the {{tag|hedge fund}}’s “long” investment portfolio - (but this is because they like to [[reuse]] all those lovely assets)
*'''Bank accounts''': running a multicurrency cash account - from which they can lend money.
*'''Bank accounts''': running a multicurrency cash account - from which they can lend money.
*'''[[Stock lending]]''': lending the {{tag|hedge fund}} the assets it needs to settle [[short sale]]s, and lending it the money it needs to buy assets.
*'''[[Stock lending]]''': lending the {{tag|hedge fund}} the assets it needs to settle [[short sale]]s, and lending it the money it needs to buy assets.
*'''[[Synthetic prime brokerage]]''':providing the {{tag|hedge fund}} with [[derivative]] exposure to assets as an alternative to the [[hedge fund]] buying them outright). Often in the trade called “[[CFD]]”s. This may involve accepting [[give-up]]s from other [[executing broker]]s.
*'''[[Synthetic prime brokerage]]''':providing the {{tag|hedge fund}} with [[derivative]] exposure to assets as an alternative to the [[hedge fund]] buying them outright). Often in the trade called “[[CFD]]”s. This may involve accepting [[give-up]]s from other [[executing broker]]s.
*'''[[Swap]]s and {{tag|ETD}}'''': Providing general exposure to swaps, futures, options and that sort of thing.
*'''[[Swap]]s and {{tag|ETD}}''': Providing general exposure to swaps, futures, options and that sort of thing.


[[Prime broker]]s often also have a consulting arm which helps a nascent {{tag|hedge fund}}s get off the ground: setting it up, finding offices, hiring people, engaging lawyers, recommending (cough) [[prime broker]]s, and [[capital introduction]].
[[Prime broker]]s often also have a consulting arm which helps a nascent {{tag|hedge fund}}s get off the ground: setting it up, finding offices, hiring people, engaging lawyers, recommending (cough) [[prime broker]]s, and [[capital introduction]].
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===What prime brokers don’t do===
===What prime brokers don’t do===
*'''Act as {{tag|PB administrator}}''': While they look after assets, prime brokers don’t calculate {{tag|NAV}} (that's the {{tag|PB administrator}}’s job)  
*'''Act as {{tag|PB administrator}}''': While they look after assets, prime brokers don’t calculate {{tag|NAV}} (that’s the {{tag|PB administrator}}’s job)  
*'''Act as {{aifmdprov|depositary}}''': [[PB]]s, which tend to be situated in London, or New York, generally cannot act an official {{aifmdprov|depositary}} for {{tag|AIFMD}} purposes (though they may get delegated the safekeeping role and may act as a {{aifmdprov|depo-lite}})
*'''Act as {{aifmdprov|depositary}}''': [[PB]]s, which tend to be situated in London, or New York, generally cannot act an official {{aifmdprov|depositary}} for {{tag|AIFMD}} purposes (though they may get delegated the safekeeping role and may act as a {{aifmdprov|depo-lite}})
*'''Act as an [[executing broker]]''': They don’t themselves work equity orders for their clients (though their compadres across the [[Chinese wall]] in the equities trading division at the same investment bank almost certainly will)
*'''Act as an [[executing broker]]''': They don’t themselves work equity orders for their clients (though their compadres across the [[Chinese wall]] in the equities trading division at the same investment bank almost certainly will)
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See especially in the context of {{tag|AIFMD}}: [[Prime broker - AIFMD Provision]].
See especially in the context of {{tag|AIFMD}}: [[Prime broker - AIFMD Provision]].
*Also [[Law of Property Act 1925]]
*Also [[Law of Property Act 1925]]
{{anat|PB}}

Revision as of 14:43, 21 November 2016

Hedge Funds & Prime Brokerage Anatomy™

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There is no industry standard prime brokerage agreement, so this is not so much an anatomy as a collection of resources about an amorphous subject.
Hedge fund | AIFMD | Depositary | Prime broker | prime brokerage agreement | synthetic prime brokerage | margin lending | custody asset | CASS Anatomy | reuse & rehypothecation | hedge fund | leveraged alpha | greeks | short selling Index: Click to expand:

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A prime broker is the business division of an Investment Bank that looks after hedge funds.

What prime brokers do

Prime brokers — fondly known in the trade as PBs — usually provide the following services:

Prime brokers often also have a consulting arm which helps a nascent hedge funds get off the ground: setting it up, finding offices, hiring people, engaging lawyers, recommending (cough) prime brokers, and capital introduction.

Why prime brokers do it

What prime brokers don’t do

  • Act as PB administrator: While they look after assets, prime brokers don’t calculate NAV (that’s the PB administrator’s job)
  • Act as depositary: PBs, which tend to be situated in London, or New York, generally cannot act an official depositary for AIFMD purposes (though they may get delegated the safekeeping role and may act as a depo-lite)
  • Act as an executing broker: They don’t themselves work equity orders for their clients (though their compadres across the Chinese wall in the equities trading division at the same investment bank almost certainly will)

Not to be confused with

See especially in the context of AIFMD: Prime broker - AIFMD Provision.